EC told to back off over degree reform

MPs are warning today that the European Commission is encroaching upon the independence of British universities by interfering in plans to make British degrees more comparable with those in Europe.

The UK and Ireland, as well as 44 other countries, have agreed to harmonise their university qualifications with a credit-based system by 2010.

This system, known as the Bologna Process, will make it easier for students to switch between universities in different countries.

However, in their report on Bologna, the education select committee says: "The expanding role of the European Community in the field of education ... and the belief that it is seeking to expand its role through the mechanisms of the Bologna Process, is a major cause of concern to UK organisations and institutions.

"Some of our evidence ... has demonstrated that anxieties still exist ... that working to achieve comparability ... might in practice lead in the direction of standardisation or uniformity and therefore undermine the autonomy and flexibility of the UK system.

"It remains crucial to the success of the Bologna Process that it remains outside the framework of the European Commission. The role of the European Commission must be appropriately circumscribed."

All the countries that have signed up to Bologna are expected to adopt a three-year undergraduate degree, two years' masters and a three-year doctorate.

But the British system contains one-year masters and four-year combined undergraduate and masters programmes (BSc) for some science and engineering degrees.

The report acknowledges that these courses would be under threat. This is particularly because, under Bologna, students are awarded 75 credits per year, but need 90 for a masters degree.

Professor Peter Main, director of education and science at the Institute of Physics, said: "Some of our degree courses will be considered second-rate by the rest of Europe. It would be a disaster if the integrated masters course was only considered as equivalent to a first degree throughout Europe."

The MPs said that to remain competitive in the world, British universities need to be involved in the Bologna Process.

Universities UK, the organisation that represents vice-chancellors, said it was vital that academic institutions remained in control of the Bologna Process.

Its president, Drummond Bone, said: "The great strength of the Process is that it is driven by universities, students and other stakeholders.

"Institutional autonomy is at the heart of this approach and is central to the success of the Process. It will be vital that it continues as the Process moves forward."

The education spokesperson for the National Union of Students, Wes Streeting, said students stood to benefit.

"Students today and in the future will be competing for jobs in a global marketplace and so it is vital that engaging them in the Bologna Process is prioritised," he said.

· The 5th Bologna Process ministerial meeting will be held in London from May 16 to 18.